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Re: Shortage of bees in almonds?

I am running a special this month, deal to end in 30 days.

I can & will deliver bee boxes with frames, stacked 2 high (Double) on 4 way pallets with lids included, to any almond orchard for $ 100 per double. up to 3,000 available. Delivery will only be made between the hours of 9 AM & 4 PM daily with a half hour for lunch @ noon daily as per ca labor laws, payment will be in CASH only! you will not receive a invoice, and these boxes will also improve the bottom line because you will not have to pay a 3rd party bee inspector. And yes each box will average 8 frames, with an additional inside feeder to boot.

Re: Shortage of bees in almonds?

Had a broker call me this morning looking for bees, of which I have no extras. I haven't talked to this broker in several years. She asked if I knew of anyone with extra bees. Sign of things to come?

Sure is... The calls began last week. Keep on keeping on.

Had an unbiased outsider who is related to beekeeping and is what I would call a "know it all" in this industry tell me this morning that a pallet is worth $800 right now.

As I got off the freeway coming home from finally grading this afternoon I saw that the final sticks being thrown in on another 150 acre plant. (new ground) Another 80 will be going in a mile from home in a couple of days. Lots of new acres going in as if bees will be available.. And all I can think is............ Well ya.......... at way more than $150.

The real test will be when the growers who need bees call and are willing to pay " going" rate for all the 4"s and 5's we culled out.

Bloom is late and so are the bees in brooding up cause of the cold. 4-6 days behind last year at this point on the trees and I'm not commenting on the brood. All I can say is FINALLY!! and are the queens on a terror now.

Re: Shortage of bees in almonds?

The supply of hives is very tight. My phone has been busy fielding calls and questions from regulators to chem industry. They really want to know why the train wrecked for many beekeepers. Drought, Pestilence and Pesticide (DPP). Well at least we have moved past PPB

Re: Shortage of bees in almonds?

Darren: Thanks for the insight and welcome to Beesource. Always nice to have input from someone with a lot of experience. DPP, yeah that is a good way of explaining things but I have seen evidence that PPB is still alive and well.

"People will generally accept facts as truth only if the facts agree with what they already believe."- Andy Rooney

Re: Shortage of bees in almonds?

Originally Posted by jim lyon

after surviving 30 to 40 below wind chills in South Dakota

As my dad was fond of saying...'you get up into the Dakotas and the only thing between you and the North Pole is a barbed wire fence'.
And from that, I reckon those Canadians don't even have the barbed wire fence.

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted. - Emerson